Year of Japan Conference (2014)

Students from KSU Dance consolidate with students from Art Education for a Butoh-Inspired performance and Installation Exhibit.

Mr.Bruce Karas, Vice President of Environment and Sustainability discusses providing clean drinking water in emergency disaster relief.

Joe Ruiz, the director of the UPS Humanitarian Relief Program discusses logistics in times of crisis.

Speakers, Brian Woodall Associate Professor at Georgia Institute College, Chuck Casto US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kenji Tateiwa Manager- Nuclear Power Programs at Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc., & Makoto Mitsui Reporter from UC Berkley discuss Japanese energy policy.

Speakers, Brian Woodall Associate Professor at Georgia Institute College, Chuck Casto US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Kenji Tateiwa Manager- Nuclear Power Programs at Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc., & Makoto Mitsui Reporter from UC Berkley discuss Japanese energy policy.

Sogo-Fujo is a traditional Japanese term meaning mutual assistance within a given community. AMDA has gone beyond the confinement of traditional affinity groups, reaching out to people, far and near, whoever is in need of assistance. AMDA has opened up the spirit of Sogo-Fujo across and beyond communities. Since its inception in 1984 and steadily building on its past experience, AMDA pursues a comprehensive and inclusive approach to its activities focusing on peaceful sustainable development. AMDA’s “Global Partnership for Sustainable Peace” philosophy aims to realize peaceful coexistence of diversity in which ordinary people can sustain a decent living and realize their hopes for tomorrow. Under the open-Sogo-Fujo, AMDA will fortify its present network and incorporate new partners from all possible fields for collaboration and joint-activities in emergency relief and peace-building efforts. Living in an age of uncertainties - politically, economically and socially with ever-increasing natural threats, AMDA will continue to seek collaborative ways to realize and sustain peace in the world. Ms.Namba will introduce the philosophy and concepts of open-Sogo-Fujo with specific examples of AMDA’s experiences worldwide. She will expand on the social milieu of the past and present Japan which has nurtured the spirit of Sogo-Fujo. BIO: Ms. Tae Namba is a Board Member and Director of International Relations with the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA). She joined AMDA in 2003 and has helped coordinate AMDA’s aid efforts in the 2003 Iran earthquake, the 2004 Sumatra Tsunami, the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and Chinghai, China, and the 2011 earthquake and TSUNAMI in Tohoku, Japan. In addition to relief efforts, she has worked with other AMDA International projects such as the Soul and Medicine Program, International Internship Program, Suganami Scholarship Program, and the Buddha Gaya Peace Clinic project in India, Mongolia, and Bhutan. In 2012, she was awarded the Mongol Health and Welfare Services 90th Commemorative Medal. ABOUT AMDA: Association of Medical Doctors of Asia is an international organization dedicated to realize a peaceful world community through humanitarian efforts in medical health care sector. AMDA provides emergency medical aid to people affected by natural as well as man-made disasters. With its special strength in the healthcare sector, AMDA also implements mid- to long-term social development projects helping people in their community building process. AMDA has worked in more than 50 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe in collaboration with governments, UN agencies such as UNHCR, WHO, WFP, UNOCHA, and other agencies and institutions.

Mr. Mikio Yamane and Mr. Taro Hasimoto, Soka Gakkai Youth Division Leaders and representatives of the recovery area discuss the Soka Gakkai relief efforts after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. They share their experiences and the principles of Soka Gakkai that fuel the continuing post disaster initiative.

Nick, Kapur, Project Manager, Digital Archive of Japan's 2011 Disaster, Harvard University, discusses digital crisis archiving of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the corresponding website at jdarchive.org.

Hideaki Iries, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Kyushu University, discusses mediation as a tool for restoration and gives a general overview of the Great Tokyo Earthquake of 1923.

Barbara Gainey, Professor of Communications, Kennesaw State University, discusses the history and communication challenges of crises management. She gives a projection of future disasters that include natural and environmental disasters, random violence and cyber attacks.